Age limit hits 160 Louisiana elected officials

Age limit hits 160 Louisiana elected officials

About 160 of Louisiana’s local officials are barred from signing up for re-election bids next week because of an age restriction that drew little attention as it breezed to legislative passage.

The law change prohibits anyone 70 years old or older from running for justice of the peace or constable in Louisiana.

Age-restricted officials are angry, and some say they intend to sign up for re-election anyway.

Opelousas Sen. Elbert Guillory, the bill’s sponsor, says he pushed the measure for a constituent who said he was seeking the law change for the Louisiana Justice of the Peace and Constables Association.

But the association denies any involvement in the bill.

The attorney general’s office was holding training sessions Wednesday to notify justices of the peace and constables about the law change.